Actually, this post came to mind after reading Amiey’s post on working after hours, and reading some comments regarding ‘A teacher’s life‘. So, here is my take of the whole thing, and some facts I feel is right, but if you disagree with me, then give me your take by leaving a comment.
THE JOB
There is a huge belief that the teaching profession is EASY. Some say, we get off work early, have so many holidays, and have so much free time to spare. Some even say “Teacher’s makan gaji buta“.
Well, I disagree. Although the general public would see us leave school as early as 1230pm, but no one knows about other work which are not shown. Teacher’s are generally asked to do a lot of paperwork, and at some point normally asked to come back to school during noon or the weekends to do a designated task, such as organizing certain events, or attending meetings. Since there is no allocated working time for teachers, we do get asked to come down to the office/school at odd times, such as weekends, and sometimes have to stay on until 5pm or more. In other words, as long as there is an instruction from the ‘higher’ authorities, we have to make ourselves available regardless of time. The talk about ‘a lot of holidays‘ is also untrue because it is clearly stated in the education circular that teachers can be called back to work during this holidays shall the need arises, and this circular has been used by many heads to re-call back teachers to school during these holidays.
SOCIAL LIFE
Well, the truth is that there is no difference between a teacher’s social life with other occupation. Like other humans, teachers do go to clubs, party and hang out. I do not consider myself a traditional teacher, and I do enjoy outings and parties or hanging out with friends, although to the traditional teacher, this act would be deemed as unwarranted and uncanny as teachers are perceived as role models. For me, the key is knowing your limits. I always think that after work hours, we should be our own selves.
DRESS CODE
Urgh… I don’t care about how teachers should be expected to dress outside of working hours, but people perceive that teachers should be always smart regardless of where they are. It’s a pathetic perception actually. My uncle once said to his friend “Don’t see this guy dressed like an ‘Ah Pek’, he’s a teacher” while pointing at me, and this to me clearly shows how I bother not about the dress code which the public has placed for the teaching profession. Nonetheless, I admit that teachers should dress up properly at work, but outside, they can ‘transform’ themselves. As long as they don’t go running naked in public, I think any dress code is okay.
WHY THE TEACHING PROFESSION?
The number of people wanting to be teachers have increased by folds yearly. WHY?
For starters, the pay is good, especially if you compare the stability of the job, and the hours to other professional jobs. Yes, maybe you do get called at odd hours to do work, but it happens occasionally. So, its practically better than being a doctor, or an engineer which has to be on call most of the time.
Apart from that, there is a huge amount of jobless grads, from other fields, whom can’t find a suitable good paying job, which has finally turned to the teaching profession for work. This is actually not a good practice, because people become teacher’s for the wrong reason, but then again… there ain’t enough teachers in Malaysia for the government to be picky.
DO TEACHER’s NEED TO TAKE WORK HOME?
I admit, that at some point in my working life, I have to bring my work home. NOT that I want to, but I have to.
My very own personal policy on work is simple. I shouldn’t bring my work home, and that explains why I am very much lazy to do anything related to work at home. Someone did question why I look so damn free at home a couple of months back, and my answer was a simple “I do not want to do my work at home“… and for that answer, I got a good sum of advice.
Like any other job, the teaching profession revolves on making deadlines and at some point completing task given. Failure to complete a particular task, would result in disciplinary act, or at the very least a good call to the bosses office. With teaching hours generally filled up with explaining and teaching, there is not enough time to complete certain task, most particularly the paper work allocated, and this would definitely results in work being brought back home. Nonetheless, depending on the person, and how he does his job, this happens once a while, and not too often for me.
WHY AM I A TEACHER?
My reason of being a teacher is pretty much simple. It’s FATE. I’ve been through so many interviews, and applied for so many things I could eventually do, but the teaching profession keeps on calling. Like I always say.. its not a dream job, and sometimes I do have reservation on it.. but it does pay for my bills, and at some point.. it isn’t that bad and practically enjoyable. You just need to know how to get over the ‘traditional’ teacher’s perception. After all, this is the 21st century. Teacher’s do not wave the ‘rotan’ anymore. We blog ;P
Totally agreed! We are the new generation teachers and we have our own way of working (as long as it produces results) and being efficient 🙂
[Cyril]
Yes.. Screw the long winding ways to get results. The most important thing is the result, and the best way to get it.
Hahahahahaha 😛
Bila you update ni?? LOL… ANyway… I have to agree… you memang free… but sometimes, bila dah busy, terlampau busy…
😛
[Cyril]
Sometimes jak.. not all the time.. ;D
You pointed out the right points. I come from a family of so many teachers hence I can appreciate your situation 🙂
[Cyril]
Good to know bro 😀
LOL! I somehow anticipate your entry after the particular entry that Amiey posted up.
Well said bro!
[Cyril]
Ahh// You anticipated my response?? How come??
Hey Cyril,
Teaching is a very admirable and respectable profession, anyone who disagrees with this will have a problem with me.
I believe in the sub-conscious mind of everyone, we know that teaching is never easy, especially dealing with so many growing young adults in a class. Ask any parent, dealing with one teenager is already an eternal pain. Nonetheless, if a teacher can look pass and successfully manage this, the outcome can be very rewarding.
People will always have misconceptions about the teaching profession, but it is an honest, unfathomably important, and superbly dignified profession. The contribution to the society is nothing less than an engineer or a doctor, if not more.
Those who question the choice of another person’s career path, they are usually the ones feeling insecure about their own choices.
[Cyril]
It is pleasantly nice to know that someone which is outside the education system saying something like this bro. Thanks!
My dad was a teacher, I learned really good English from him. The only downside then was, he got transfered a lot, so my elder sisters grew up moving around, when I came along, he was on his second last posting. But I collect friends along the way and we get to see places. I respect teachers, I just dont think I’m fated to be one. 🙂 i leave that to you.
I’m just sad that some became teachers because it was their last resort, the only saving line they get. You know, my anak buah speaks so much better English than their teachers, and when I checked their language exams papers, I wanna weep! adaka patut…
[Cyril]
I really have to agree on your last point. Some are taken merely to fill in gaps and vacancies without having the appropriate qualification. Its a sad thing, but its what’s happening. This results in incompetent teachers, as you pointed out in your ‘anak buah’s ‘ case. Some times, the blame also falls on the school admin whom ask teachers whom are not trained in a particular field to teach subjects that are unrelated to their training.
the very reason why so many shying away from teaching.. because it’s difficult!
At least it is to me.
[Cyril]
Yeah.. a lot of people find it hard, but still.. they want to be in the system..
Because Amiey’s entry made as if if you have no life…which is not true, right? LOL!
No hard feeling ya Amiey. 😀
[Cyril]
LOL… I do have a life… The other day, I was busy preparing exams, marking exams, and also preparing my robotics team for the national competition in KL. That’s why I was really busy, and plus… my work place is ‘super busy’ with so many projects.. *sigh*
Dad used to asked me to become a teacher, like my cousin but I didn’t want to cos I prefer studying accountancy *that time* ..
thinking back, if I were to listen to Dad.. I might be a Teacher now 😀
[Cyril]
Imaging.. Cikgu Rose.. that’s really nice.. Always loved the name Rose…
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In many ways, you’re like me. I don’t bother to dress up nicely unless occasion calls for it, I go clubbing – dancing, singing and listening to good singers – that’s my favourite pastime…but be yourself! The students can see through the hypocrisy, the pretentiousness and all that. Once you’re a teacher with integrity, when it comes to work, you put in your whole heart and soul, you can never go wrong! Your students will respect you, you do not need a cane at all…and when they do well in life (not just in exams!), you share their happiness….. Too much to put everything down in words, so I’ll just stop here!
[Cyril]
Yes.. I agree with you… so much
P.S.
I smoke. All my students know I smoke…but once you have their love and respect, they will see through your imperfections. After all, teachers are also humans…
[Cyril]
Some people do get this, but some don’t at all.
Hello Cyril,
Good views on teaching profession. However, we all need to realize that each person has different views on this.
I have been in private institutions and companies for 9 years and i regret that i have wasted my 9 years serving private sectors. The workload and risk is unbelievably high. Not only teachers, I too brought work home and most of the time, had to come to work on Saturday and Sunday. Holidays are only on public holidays.
To my surprise, when I become a teacher, all the work is far lesser than I had. In fact, I finished my school work during that half day. I believe, we need to enjoy our work. I don’t mind spending extra time with students or attend to their activities after school hours.
At times, yeah we receive pekeliling and instructions from JPN. But it is part of the job. Imagine myself who received instruction directly from the CEO before, any minor mistake I did, I risk losing my job. I was working in fear. There isn’t any real security in my job. The salary increment is super duper slow and is always unable to compensate the workload we did.
Although fate is true, but i believe it was myself who chose to be a teacher.
On the other hand Cyril, I agree with you that teaching in school is indeed a challenging profession and should not be looked down by others. We are the ones responsible to shape our future generations. And until today, i respect all my ex-teachers for making me who i am today.
[Cyril]
Yes, everyone has their own opinion bro. Parents view things differently, as well as teachers themselves. Even teachers in rural schools, and town schools have different opinion. I appreciate your feedback, and let us now work to make people understand what the profession is all about. At least, to kill those ‘sentiments’ which say that Teachers relax only.
I enjoyed reading this post and I applaud you for not being trapped in perceived notions. I feel like teachers are heroes within society. At different phases of my primary and secondary education life, I’ve met a few special teachers that have inspired me to be more than I can be with their jokes, stories and advices.
We all owe enormous debts to our teachers for who we are now in life, especially if we find ourselves doing good. It’s a pity that we kids don’t realise how special the teachers are and our time in school until we are done with it.
Keep doing your thing bro, keep inspiring people!
BTW, I know that teacher’s might have seen this but I dedicated this vid to teachers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpog1_NFd2Q
Hafiy:
Thanks for the complement and the video.I hope I can continue inspiring people, and I find it very encouraging that you can find special teachers during your student life.